DOWNEY - In response to a civil lawsuit from the family of a South Gate man who was fatally shot twice in the back by a Downey police officer, the city has signed a letter of agreement to retain the services of a police litigation law firm.

The City Council held a special meeting March 2 and approved the hiring of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez and Trester of Los Angeles to defend the city in a civil lawsuit from the family of Michael Nida, according to council agenda documents.

Nida, 31, a married father of four, was unarmed when he was fatally shot in the back by a police officer on Oct. 22 near Paramount Boulevard and Imperial Highway, according to an autopsy from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

The officer was investigating a nearby ATM robbery and said Nida made an "aggressive" move before he was shot. Police later determined Nida wasn't connected with the ATM robbery and was on a date with his wife.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting and will turn over its results to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, which will decide if the officer involved was at fault or acted appropriately.

The Downey Police Department didn't release the name of the officer who allegedly shot Nida. However, at council meetings, Nida family members identified him as Officer Steve Gilley.

Lt. Dean Milligan, a Downey police spokesman, wouldn't confirm Gilley is the officer, but did say Gilley is on the police force and on paid administrative leave.

According to the Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez and Trester website, the law firm is "extremely well-equipped to represent the interests of individual law enforcement officers, supervisory officials, and their employing public entities. We understand the importance of cutting off harassing litigation at the earliest possible time."

The firm claims clients from police departments in Inglewood, Beaumont and Southgate, and sheriff's departments in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.